Episode 2: Unlikely Encounters
295 Words
Days turned into weeks, and Ethan found himself looking for excuses to venture into the areas of the mansion where Ava worked.
Their paths crossed more frequently, and Ethan couldn't help but notice the way Ava's eyes sparkled when she smiled or the way her hair fell in loose waves down her back.
Ava, too, had begun to notice Ethan's gaze, the way he looked at her with an intensity that made her feel seen.
She tried to brush it off, attributing it to her imagination, but the flutter in her chest whenever he was near told her otherwise.
One afternoon, while Ava was dusting the library, Ethan appeared behind her, his voice low and smooth.
"You seem to know your way around this place. What's your name again?"
"Ava, sir," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Ethan, please," he said, his smile warm.
"We're not formal here, unless it's absolutely necessary."
Ava nodded, her cheeks warming. "Thank you, Ethan."
As the days turned into weeks, Ethan and Ava's encounters became more frequent.
They'd exchange pleasantries, and Ethan would find himself looking forward to these brief interactions.
Ava, too, felt a sense of comfort around Ethan, a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time.
However, their budding connection wasn't without its challenges.
Ethan's parents, particularly his mother, disapproved of their son's interest in a servant.
They saw Ava as beneath their son's station, a distraction from his duties and responsibilities.
"Ethan, you need to focus on your future," his mother would say. "Ava is just a servant. She's not suitable for someone of your standing."
Ethan would nod, but his heart wouldn't listen.
He felt drawn to Ava in a way he couldn't explain, a connection that went beyond their social differences.
- Writer
